Gas heater



sept.29,1936. y Rf E. FRAS 2,055,926

GAS HEATER Filed Feb. 8, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 1 y l lNvEN-roR 4 Z R.EF/a5er BYQMQQLM;

ATTORNEY Sept. 29,. 1936. R. E. FRASER n GAS HEATER 4 sheetshee 2 Filled Feb. s, 1935 Sept. 29, 1936. R E, FRASER' ,I 2,055,926

GAS HEATER Filed Feb. a, .1955 4 sheets-Sheet s Hf IL Il" "j 23 W I lNvEN'roR ECFzasel A C? .um

ATTORNEY Sept 29, 1936.- R. E. FRASER l 2,055,926

GAS HEATER Filed Feb. 8, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 4 Figs INVENTOR A R.E.Fra.ser

, B gmm ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STA-TES PATENT OFFICE GAS HEATER corporation Application February 8, 1935, Serial No. 5,569

8 Claims.

This vinvention relates to the heating art and particularly to vva gas fired heating unit of that type commonly known as a floor furnace as distinguished from-the'usual centralV unit basement furnace.

As heretofore commonly constructed and used the so-called floor furnace comprises an outer casing adapted to be suspended from and below the iloor of a room. Spaced substantially equally from all four of the side walls of 'the casing is a central heating chamber v.having therein a gas heater. Air 'moves from the lower to the upper end of the heating chamber 'past the heater where the rheatexchange 'takes place. The heated air then flows out of a .grate set on the top of the heatingchamberythe top of which chamber is set at the floor vlevel of the room; Cooler air returns from the -room through ther grating also at floor level and through the space between the outer casing of the walls of the heating chamber, which :return air enters into the heating chamber at the'bottom thereof where vit is reheated 'and again discharged into the room. Affair example of such a floor furnace is'sho-wn in my Patent No. 1,952,009.

Certain disadvantages are inherent in the use of a furnace of `this type. vIn order to use a unit suliciently large to properly heat a room itoften happens that the width thereof is-sogreat that even if the unit is placed close to a wall it becornes necessary to cut into the edge of the rug in the room in order to vlit itaround the heater. Also the center grate through-which the rheat is rising becomes very Ahot and ofttimes children playing on the floor will-be burned by-coming in contact therewith.

The .primary object of l'my improved invention therefore is to provide a heating unit which will have all the advantages of the floor unit but which will do away with the above and other inherent disadvantages thereof.

This object I accomplish generally by providing what may vbe 'termed a combination floor and wall furnace in lwhich the heating chamber and return air inlet, constituting what may be termed the vfloor portion, are still suspended below the floor but in whichthe hot Aair discharge grill element, constituting what may be termed lthe wall portion, is positioned against and discharges transversely outwardly from a wally of the room. Thisnovel structure is carried out by means of such "novel relative arrangements of parts as will' more fully appear' from the following specications and claims.

In the. drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my novel heating unit.

Fig. .2 is a vertical section taken 'on a line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 -is a. top plan view, 'partly broken but, of the heating unit with the wall portion removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, showing the joint between 'the 'removable wall portion and the floor portion of the unit.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly Tin section showing the Ijoint between the removable heating chamber element'and 'its support.

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section lthrough the wall portion of the unit.

Referring now more particularly to the fcharacters of reference on the drawings, the numeral I designates the outline vof the floor of a room, and the numeral 2 an adjacent wall thereof.

As indicated linthe preamble to this specification, the present invention anticipates the combination-of l`4'ilo'or and wallportions. The floor portion comprises generally the heating chamber andthe return air passageways with a heater disposed within the heating chamber. The wall portion of the unit comprises generally the heat outlet grill element connected with the heating chamber which is located below the oor and which grill extends above the oor and immediately `adjacent the wall -and presents an -appearance very similar to that of an ordinary heat discharging grill used on the outlet conduit vof a basement furnace.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows generally the entire unit disassociated yfrom its location 'in the floor, while Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof showing it as it appears Amounted in the floor with the heat discharging element extending immediately adjacent the wall. The numeral 3 designates the Vsubstantially rectangular outside casing of the floor portion, which casing is provided at its upper edges with outwardly turned anges 4 which extend over and are vsupported by the flooring I, a proper opening being cut in the iioor and the floor being yproperly braced in order rto support the same. The heating unit is suitably supported from the bottomof the casing 3 and projects vertically into the casing and comprises generally a main gas heater 5 'below whichis the gas burner 6 which discharges the heated products of combustion into the heater 5.` The heater 5 terminates -short of the top of the casing 3 and Vis provided with a pair of outlets l, each communicating with a substantiall-y oval shaped conduit 8. Each conduit 8 eXtends vertically adjacent the heater 5 and terminates at its lower end in an outlet pipe 9 which communicates with an outlet casing IU common to both conduits 8 and having in turn a single outlet flue II projecting outside the front wall of the casing 3. Heat radiating hollow fins I2 project outwardly from the side walls of the heater 5 and have communication therewith.

The heated products of combustion from the burner 6 pass through the heater 5, outlets 1,

conduits 8, outlets 9, and finally through the casing I0 and single outlet II to the flue. The gas heater 5 is placed closely adjacent the rear wall of the casing 3 so as to enable the unit to be installed in the floor closely adjacent the wall and still allow of the proper recirculation and heating of the air in the room in the manner as will presently appear. The air heating chamber surrounds this gas heater 5 and comprises generally a rectangular casing A which comprises spaced walls I3 and I4 respectively to provide a hollow wall entirely around such casing for a purpose as will presently appear. This casing A extends over the gas heater 5 and its associated parts and rests at its bottom on two crossbars I5 extending from front to rear of the casing 3. These bars have inturned flanges I6 which extend inside of the walls I3-I4 of the casing A and function to guide the casing into place when it is set in position within the casing 3, and these flanges I6 also prevent lateral displacement of the casing A after it has once been placed in position. It will be noted that this casing A is not definitely connected to the bars I5 but may be readily removed therefrom. The casing A is cut away as at Il to fit over the outlets 9.

When the casing A is in position within the casing 3 the back wall thereof is spaced only a slight distance from the back wall of the casing 3 to form a narrow air passage-way I8. A panel I9 is mounted on the inside of the back wall I3 of the casing A and. spaced a short distance therefrom to provide an air passageway 2G between the back wall I3 and the gas heater 5. The back wall of the casing 3 has -a plurality of orifices 2| and 2Ia adjacent the top edge and bottom thereof respectively, while the back wall I4 has a plurality of orifices 22 adjacent the lower edge thereof and the inner wall I3 of the casing A has a plurality of orifices 23 adjacent the upper edge thereof and completely around the entire inner circumference of the wall I3.

The front and side surfaces of the casing A are spaced a considerable distance from the front and side inner surfaces of the casing 3 to provide a considerable air space 24 between such sides of the casing 3 and the casing A. The front hollow wall I3-I4 of the casing A adjacent the top edge thereof is inclined backwardly as at B to form a restricted outlet C at the top of the casing A. Surrounding this outlet C and supported on the top edges of the casing 3 is a return -air inlet grate 25. Air returning from the room to the heating unit passes down this grate and through the space 24 and hence into the heating chamber formed around the heater 5 by the casing A and thence to the outlet C thereof. Such air during this travel is thoroughly heated by contact with the heat radiating from the gas heater 5 and its associated parts. This heated air is then discharged back into the room through the Wall portion D of the unit which is in communication with the outlet C.

The wall portion comprises generally a casing D having inturned flanges 26 at its lower edge adapted to removably t over cooperating flanges 2l' projecting upwardly from the side of the casing A around the outlet C. Those cooperating iianges on the back of the unit are removably attached together by wing nuts 28 threaded through the same. These wing nuts can be reached from the front of the unit when the cover grill 3l is removed.

The backs and sides of the grill casing D are provided with thick insulation mats 29 to insulate the same against the possibility of the adjacent wall being scorched or set on re by the heat which pours out through this wall portion of the unit. Further insulation is provided at this point by reason of the fact that this insulating mat 29 is spaced from the side walls of the casing D and from the wall 2 when the casing D is fitted against the Wall whereby the casing between its side walls and this mat and between the mat and the wall is provided with an air space |8a in communication with the air space I8. (See Fig. 6.) A plurality of inlet orifices 30 are provided in the side and top walls of the casing D whereby air will be drawn from the room through these orices and down through the space IBa and space I8, thence through the orices 22 into the hollow wall I3-I4 of the casing A, and thence through the orices 23 back into the heating chamber A. This circulation of air further tends to insulate the wall portion from the adjacent wall and also to insulate the back wall of the casing 3.

This latter action is enhanced by reason of the fact' that additional cool air from underneath the iioor is drawn through the orifices 2I down through the space I8 and through the orifices 22 into the hollow wall I3-I4 of the casing A. It will be noted that these insulating features are of great importance and form a primary part of the present invention, since it is absolutely essential that in view of the fact the heating unit is placed so close to the wall every chance of overheating or setting fire to the wall must be avoided and this is fully taken care of by these several features of insulation.

Over the face of the casing D is fitted the outlet grill 3 I. This grill has small inturned tongues 32 at its lower edge which fit through corresponding slits in the bottom face of the casing D. The grill at its upper end is fastened in position by small thumb catches 33. By turning the catches so as to release the upper edge of the grill the grill may then be removed from the front of the casing by withdrawing the tongues 32 from their cooperating slots. The wing nuts 28 may then be s reached to disconnect the grill element from the top of the casing A and it may be also removed. The grate 25 may then be lifted clear of the casing 3 and thereupon the casing A may be removed from its supporting bars I5. This method of assembly and disassembly of the parts is an important feature of the invention in that it permits the several elements to be taken out when it is desired to clean out the heating unit. This is necessary to be done quite often since the grills being open to the room, dust and debris from the room is very apt to fall through the same.

The arrangement of parts whereby I am enabled to bring the outlet I-II to the front of the unit is quite novel and useful. By this arrangement the flue pipe may be carried in any direction away from the unit. This is a great advantage when encountering beams or other obstructions which cannot easily be avoided when adsense the vent. is arrangedaatoneendnof the iunitrasgis now the general commonly used construction.

It willrbe apparent from thelforegoi-ng descrip.- tion. ofthe construction .and4 relative yarrangement .of the parts that my improved heating .unit yhas La floor portion and a wallr portion, the backs of which lie :substantially in line with eachother .and are adapted to lie parallel with andi adjacent to a Wall of a room. The floor portion .of the unit is so fconstructed .asto well sustain the heating chamber and the heater therein, with ample room around. the sides and front thereof to provide for the recirculation of air from the room into the heating chamber. The wall portion of the unit then projects into the room proper irnmediately adjacent the wall, giving the appearance of an ordinary basement furnace outlet grill, but being in fact admirably adapted to receive and discharge the heated air from the floor portion. Thus is provided a very compact and neat appearing unit avoiding the disadvantages of an ordinary iioor furnace, while maintaining all of its advantages. It will also be obvious that the structure of the back Walls of both the floor and wall portions of the unit is admirably adapted to provide complete and efficient insulation properties without any great expense or addition of heavy and unwieldy parts.

An air circulating fan may be desired to be installed in the wall portion D to step up the circulation and increase the efficiency of the unit.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas heating unit including a floor portion which comprises an outer casing, a heater disposed within the casing closely adjacent the back wall thereof, a second casing which is open at both ends and surrounds the heater to form a heating chamber, the back wall of the second casing lying close to the back wall of the iirst casing and spaced a relatively much greater distance from the front and side walls thereof, an air inlet grate over the top of the second casing, an outlet grill casing communicating in substantially vertical alinement with the upper open end of the heating chamber, and a discharge grill forming one upstanding face of the last named casing to discharge air therefrom, the grill casing having hollow walls on the other three sides forming air spaces which are in communication with the space between the first and second named casings, the outer portion of the hollow walls being provided with a plurality of orifices.

2. A heating unit comprising an outer casing, supporting elements arranged within said casing adjacent the lower end thereof, a second open ended casing disposed within the first casing and mounted on said supports, the second casing being disposed closely adjacent the back wall of the rst casing and spaced a relatively much greater distance from the front and side Walls thereof, a heater disposed within the second casing, an open grate mounted on the top of the first casing around the upper open end of the second casing,

and anthird-lY casing-mounted on'the upper -edge of ,the second'l .casingr'and in communication Ein 4substantially-vertical alinement therewith, the third casing liaving-'anopen outlet grill in one upstanding facefthereof andhaving hollow walls in open communicationfwith the space between the first and second casings,;theho1low walls having perforations in their outer portion and the back wall ofthe second .casing having perforations adjacent the upper .edge thereof.

A...ccmbinationloor.and wall furnace Loomprising an open topped rectangular casing adapted to depend from an opening in a floor of a room and with its back adapted to project adjacent and outwardly o'f the vertical plane of a wall of the room, an inner casing in said depending casing spaced therefrom and forming a heating chamber while the space between said casings forms an air inlet chamber communicating with the room in front and at the sides of the heating chamber, a third casing upstanding from and covering the top of the heating chamber and the adjacent top portions of the inlet chamber at the sides, the sides and top of the third casing extending to the back thereof, said third casing having heat insulating back and inner side Walls spaced from the sides of the third casing so that the spaces between said sides and inner side walls are in cornmunication with the inlet chamber while the third casing inwardly of said heat insulating walls is in communication with the heating chamber, and an air outlet grill in the front of the third casing; there being openings in the sides of said third casing for the admission of air from the room.

4. In a oor and wall furnace unit, a discharge casing for hot air adapted to upstand from the iioor separate from and outwardly of a wall, the sides and top of the casing adapted to extend to said wall and the front of said casing having outlet openings, inner heat insulating side and back walls in the casing spaced from the sides of the casing and adapted to be spaced from the wall, means below the casing to heat air and deliver the same to the casing for discharge into the room, and means functioning with the operation of the heating means to circulate relatively cool air through the enclosed spaces in the casing outwardly of said insulating walls.

5. In a floor and wall furnace unit, a discharge casing for hot air adapted to upstand from the floor separate from and outwardly of a wall and adapted to be disposed with its back adjacent said wall, heating means in the unit to heat and deliver hot air to said casing for discharge into the room,

and means functioning with the operation of the heating means to keep the casing at the back relatively cool to prevent possible overheating of the wall.

6. A iioor and wall furnace unit comprising a grate adapted to be supported on a iioor over an opening therein, a casing forming a hea-ting chamber depending from the grate and also projecting upwardly therefrom a short distance, and another casing having air outlet openings in its front face removably resting on and upstanding from the grate and removably surrounding and engaging the upwardly projecting portion of the rst named casing.

'7. A floor and wall furnace unit comprising a grate adapted to be supported on a licor over an opening therein, a casing forming a heating chamber depending from the grate and also projecting upwardly therefrom a short distance, another casing having an open front removably resting on and upstanding from the grate and removably surrounding and engaging the upwardly projecting portion of the rst named casing, a removable air outlet grate mounted over the front of said other casing, and a removable bolt connecting the upwardly projecting portion of the first named casing with the adjacent portion of the second casing and accessible upon removal of the grate thereof.

8. A floor and Wall furnace comprising a casing adapted to depend from the floor, a heating chamber in said casing, another casing having air outlet openings in the front upstanding from the rst named casing, a vertical back wall on said upstanding casing, and orificed top and side wall extensions on said upstanding casing projecting rearwardly of the back wall thereof for engagement with a wall of the room in which the furnace is mounted, whereby to maintain said back wall spaced from the room wall when the furnace 

